Screw clamp with a flexible clamping element



Oct. 6, 1;)5'9 s. L. METCALFE 2,907,350

SCREW CLAMP WITH A FLEXIBLE CLAMPING ELEMENT Filed Nov. 14, 1956 24 5 12} 31 i6 i2 5 2 32 3o T l1:

QINVENTOR.

SAMUEL L. METCALFE United States Patent SCREW CLAMP WITH A FLEXIBLE CLAMPING ELEMENT Samuel L. Metcalfe, Old Lyme, Conn.

Application November 14, 1956, Serial N0.'622,147

2 Claims. (Cl. 144297)' This invention relates to work holding devices, and more particularly has reference to a clamping device so designed as to include a flexible element adapted to be passed about the work, with said element being tensioned about the work responsive to rotation of a screw within a body, one end of the element being connected to said screw and the other end having a connection directly to the body.

Ordinarily, a number of different clamps is required, for performing particular clamping operations. For example, a band clamp must be used for holding segments of a cylinder together. A bar clamp is required for holding boards together while glue or a similar adhesive connection between the boards is setting. Further, mitre vises or similar clamping devices are required for holding three or more sides of a frame together. Then again, a simple vise or carriage makers clamp (also known as a C-clamp) is required for clamping any two or more objects together.

One important object of the present invention is to provide a clamp so designed that it will embody, in a single work holding or clamping device, the adaptability for performing all of the various functions indicated above, as well as various other functions, such as the functions of a hoist or jack, a means for pulling objects apart, and a means for compressing various work pieces.

A more specific object is to provide a device of the character stated that will be inexpensively designed, so as to be capable of manufacture at a relatively small increase in cost above that required in the construction of an ordinary C-clamp.

Yet another object of importance is to provide a device of the character stated which will be so designed that any of a large number of flexible elements, differing materially from one another in respect to the length thereof, can be connected to the body and screw, respectively, of the device, thus to increase the versatility of the clamp to an even greater extent.

A further object of importance is to provide a clamp of the character stated which will be so designed as to be manufactured, in part, from certain conventional, already manufactured components, with only a relatively small modification and redesign of said components.

Still another object is to provide a clamp of the character described that will be designed for holding work pieces differing Widely in respect to their size, shape, or material.

Yet another object of importance is to provide a clamp as described that will be capable of application to the work swiftly and easily, and will be capable of detachment from the Work with equal speed and facility.

Still another object is to form the clamp in such a manner that it will be adapted, in addition to performing its clamping or compression functions, to move objects in a vertical or horizontal plane when used in lieu of a hoist or jack. In this connection, it is proposed, in carrying out the invention, to permit two or more of the devices to be connected, and used, in tandem or parallel.

When used in tandem, the device may multiply the distance through which force can be applied when moving 'ice an object. be applied through a given plane when compressing an object will be similarly-multiplied. In the latter operation, two small clamps formed according to the present invention can do the work of a single, larger, conventional clamp, so that it is apparent that the clamp has. considerable flexibility or versatility, not possessed by any of the various types of clamps or work holding devices previously mentioned herein.

A further object of importance is to provide a work holding device of the character stated which will be designed for not only clamping or otherwise acting upon solid work pieces of the type previously referred to herein, but will also be used to advantage in bonding or laminating wood, metal, textiles, etc. It is proposed, in this regard, to form the clamp in such a manner that the use of guide rails, wedges, cleats, or similar devices can be readily resorted to for the purpose of not only protecting the work, but also, for applying additional pressure uniformly or at specific points upon the work.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a work holding clamp according to the present invention, as it appears when in use in clamping a plurality of boards in edge-contacting relation, said boards being illustrated only fragmentarily; and

Figure 2 is a slightly enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10, 12 and 14 are boards or other workpieces to be clamped. The clamp constituting the invention includes a C-shaped body or yoke 16 in one leg of which is a threaded, through opening paralleling the bight of the yoke and receiving a threaded screw 18 having on its inner end a swivelled foot 19. One or more workpieces can be clamped between foot 19 and the other leg in the usual manner, if desired.

The outer end of the screw is devoid of threads, extends into the inner open end. of a sleeve 20, and is pinned to the sleeve for rotation therewith, by a cross pin 22 freely slidable diametrically of the sleeve and screw within aligned openings thereof, so as to provide a handle for rotating the sleeve and screw conjointly.

The bore of the sleeve is reduced as at 23 at the outer end of the sleeve and freely rotating and slidable axially in the reduced part 23 of the bore is a connecting pin 24.

. This extends axially of the sleeve beyond the outer end thereof, and is formed at its inner end with a head26 of a diameter corresponding substantially to that of the main part of the sleeve bore. Head 26 abuts against an internal shoulder 27 of the sleeve, defined by the provision of the reduced bore part 23. Axial sliding of the pin outwardly of the sleeve is thus limited by the head 26 engaging the shoulder, while axial inward sliding is limited by the head engaging the inner end of screw 18.

At its outer end the pin is formed with an eye 28 to which is connectable a cable or other flexible tie element 30 extendable about the workpieces 10, 12, 14 and connected at its other end to the other leg of the clamp, which is formed with an aperture 32 for this purpose.

In use, the clamp may be employed as any ordinary C-clamp with the work clamped between foot 19 and the yoke leg confronting the foot. Alternatively, and as shown, the clamp may be laid flat on the work to be clamped, with element 30 loosely passed about the Work and screw 18 adjusted to the left in Figures 1 and 2. Then, the screw is shifted to the right in these figures of the drawing, by rotating sleeve 20 through the use of handie 22. This causes element 30 to be tensioned about the work, thus effecting the desired clamping of the work When used in parallel, the force that can pieces 10, 12, 14. During rotation of the sleeve, the pin 24 does not rotate, due to its being swivelled in the sleeve.

In the frame or body, additional holes 34, 36 may be formed for connection of the element 30 to the body at any of various, selected locations.

It will be seen that the device is formed in such manner that any of a large number of flexible elements 30 of different length can be attached to the body 16 and pin 24. Therefore, the clamp can hold work pieces of different sizes, and in every instance the flexible element will be securely tensioned about the work piece to insure that a proper clamping action is obtained. The work piece might be cylindrical, triangular, or otherwise shaped, as desired, as will be readily apparent.

Of course, the clamp shown in the drawing is merely one example of various types of clamps that can be manufactured following the invention. instead of a C-shaped body, for example, the clamp might be of the so-called F-clamp type, but in every instance the basic principle of the invention will be retained, namely, the provision of a body to one end of which the flexible element is connectable, with the body having a screw or other means adjustable within the body and connectable to the other end of the flexible element so as to tension the flexible element securely about the work said screw being connected at one end to said other end of the flexible element, the screw at its other end being movable toward and away from said one end of the body for selective clamping of objects directly between said one end of the body and said other end of the screw.

It may be noted, with further reference to the particular construction and operational characteristics of the device, that the body 16 may appropriately be considered as including an elongated connecting portion 33, and a pair of legs 40, 42 constituting first and second legs, respectively. As will be observed, these project laterally in one direction from the connecting portion 38 at locations spaced longitudinally of said connecting portion. It is also to be noted that the body, considering the general shape thereof, is substantially flat and wide, with the connecting portion 38 extending along one side of the body and the body being wholly open along the other side thereof. In accordance with the invention, the threaded opening of the first leg 40 is extended in a path paralleling the length of the connecting portion 38, said path extending along the open side of the body. The screw, accordingly, follows the same path, with the end of the screw that carries the swiveled foot 19 projecting along the open side of the body so as to partially close the same in selected positions to which the screw is moved. The arrangement is desirable, in that there is maximum clearance for work pieces, produced by the particular shape of the body and the arrangement thereof relative to the flexible element and screw. Projecting portions of the work piece can extend into the open side of the body, while said work piece is gripped by the flexible element. Still fruther, the particular shape of the body, with respect to the openings 32, 34, 36, imparts a high degree of versatility to the device, increasing to the maximum the range of its possible uses or applications.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above; since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles of operation and the means presently devised to carry out said principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A clamp comprising a generally flat, C-shaped body including an elongated connecting portion and first and second legs projecting laterally in one direction from said connecting portion in the general plane of the connecting portion at locations spaced longitudinally thereof, the first leg having a threaded opening extended in a path disposed along the open side of the body in parallelism with the length of the connecting portion; an elongated screw threadedly engaged in said opening, one end of the screw being movable within the space between the legs; a sleeve having one end receiving the other end of the screw; a cross-pin slidably extending through the sleeve and screw and connecting the same for conjoint rotation; a connecting pin freely swiveled in the other end of the sleeve and projecting axially of the sleeve beyond said other end of the sleeve; and an elongated flexible element connected between the pin and body.

2. A clamp as in claim 1 wherein the connecting portion has a transverse aperture medially between its 0pposite ends, each leg having an aperture extending transversely therethrough, the connection of the flexible element to the body being of a detachable nature with the flexible element being extendible through any one of said apertures to effect said connection thereof to the body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 720,816 Karl Feb. 17, 1903 1,200,706 Brost Oct. 10, 1916 1,221,507 Buesse Apr. 3, 1917 1,441,464 Watson Ian. 9, 1923 1,480,881 Buflord Ian. 15, 1924 1,625,258 lelbert Apr. 19, 1927 2,087,328 Mitchnick July 20, 1937' 2,324,803 Snyder July 20, 1943 

